EXCLUSIVE

by political editor Paul Francis

The cancellation of dozens of school re-building projects could end up costing Kent County Council more than £6million, it emerged today.

The authority has disclosed it spent £6.7m on consultants and advisers to help develop projects under the government’s Building Schools for The Future programme.

The sum excludes the liabilities of contractors themselves, who could also stand to lose money and other costs incurred by schools themselves.

The coalition government, which has now scrapped many of the schemes planned under BSF, has yet to say if authorities will be reimbursed their costs.

KCC spent millions drawing up projects to re-build schools in Thanet, Gravesham, Dover, Shepway and Swale that will not now go ahead.

Money was paid to architects, designers, surveyors and lawyers.

In figures disclosed to the KM Group under the Freedom of Information Act, KCC said it spent £3.7m on consultants for cancelled schemes in Thanet and Gravesham; £2.9m on 16 schemes in Dover and Shepway and £150,000 on proposals for schools in Sittingbourne.

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In the case of KCC’s proposals for schools in Thanet, Gravesham and Swale, the authority is tied in to contractual commitments although it has none associated with Dover and Shepway schools.

In a statement, KCC leader Cllr Paul Carter (Con) said it was too early to say whether the council would lose the money.

"Building Schools for the Future contracts are complex. We are still assessing any potential liabilities which depend to a large extent on the government’s education spending review.

"The coalition government has indicated a commitment to capital investment in school buildings.

"It would be premature to second guess the outcome of the review.

"In Kent, we are in a privileged position to seize any opportunity after the review, using the plans and expertise already in place."

He emphasised that KCC had secured £400m investment for schools before the BSF scheme was suspended.

Education secretary Michael Gove has announced a review into alternative ways of funding school schemes.

Other figures show KCC has spent £870,000 on consultants and advisers to develop proposals for eight ‘old-style’ academy schools.

The government recently confirmed funding for two - the Skinners Academy in Tunbridge Wells and the Sheppey Academy - but has not yet said how much funding there will be for the remaining six.

They are the John Wallis Academy, Ashford; the Knole Academy, Sevenoaks; Dover Christ Church Academy; Wilmington Academy, Dartford; the St Augustine Academy at Maidstone and the Duke of York Military Academy.